Ancient Dyes

Learning about ancient dyes for fiber is pure joy!  I've been using indigo dye for many years--my first attempt at indigo dyes was with a good friend, who was also a botanist.  We made up an indigo vat and had a good old dyeing day with fellow guild members.  Later in my learning journey, I was education coordinator on an indigo plantation, which grew the plant for several years--an outlet for my dyeing ability to improve.




Recently, while surfing the web, I came across this wonderful video on ancient dyes.
Enjoy!

Towel Exchange

Ah May--beginning of summer activities while other gatherings are winding down.  Earlier this month our Way Out West (WOW) weavers closed out their study on handwoven towels.  We learned many techniques on what constitutes a good woven towel--lessons either beginner or experienced weaver can relish.  May luncheon was an opportunity to exchange a handwoven towel with another member of the group.

Here are the fruits of our study.

Linen towels

waffle weave combined with plain weave

How do you exchange without knowing who has contributed which

towel?  We had plain bags, all the same size, each marked with

a different number--we randomly picked a bag and

were instructed to fold only once, staple twice--

of course, note your number.

When we returned the bags with our exchange towel, 

each person received a different bag--this way we

didn't know whose towel was in what bag--a 

surprise for sure!

This was a shawl shown at 'show and tell'

Tencel--warp and weft

One weaver has been studying with Jane Stafford in

her internet group--she became our overachiever

for the year!!

I'm sorry I didn't get individual photos of each of

the gifted towels.

Here was the layout for photo presentation

If WOW member wished they could gift a

second towel that would go to a guild member

who experienced flooding during Hurricane

Harvey

It was a joy to see all the delightful weaves from members.

We begin a study in profile drafts in September--

a chance to learn something new, even if you 

think you know it all!!

Japanese Knitting

There is much discussion on some Ravelry groups about this

new technique in the world of knitting.

What makes it so special?  Isn't this knitting

like all knitting?

Hitomi Shida original designs and 

variations on every imaginable classic stitch

result in intricate patterns that form

the basis for beautiful and unique knitted fashions.  Although

the book is written in Japanese, it has been translated by

Gayle Roehm

This is for experienced knitters who would like some adventure

in their knitting.

Deborah Tomasello gives us her  Cowl Number 46, 104

it has the signature twisted stitches and raised design common to Japanese lace patterns. can be knitted and worn as either a scarf or a cowl. This project is a lacy, fun piece to work, and it is full of luxurious drape. The design includes a buttoned closure (but no buttonholes!) so it can be buttoned and worn as a cowl, wrapped around the neck twice before buttoning to be worn as a neck warmer, or left unbuttoned and worn as a scarf. So versatile! It is light, and it can be knit in any fiber so it can be worn in any climate. Gauge is not an issue. Want your cowl larger? Work more pattern repeats. Pattern contains written instructions as well as charts. Use cotton or wool, fingering or worsted weight yarn and small or large needles. All choices are yours!

Check it out on Ravelry.

She is also leading this Socks for Spring MKAL on her

group:  Colorworks by Debi

Looks like fun knitting!

Check out this Japanese knitting KAL on Ravelry--

this is a chance to knit along with some great designers

Michelangelo and The Vatican

Current Exhibit at Museum of Houston Fine Arts

presents 

Michelangelo and the Vatican

on display through June 10--a Must SEE! 

"Masterworks by Michelangelo and his contemporaries highlight the artistic legacy of Pope Paul III and the vital role that drawing played in art production throughout Europe in the late 15th and 16th centuries. Michelangelo and the Vatican features drawings, cartoons, paintings, sculpture, and prints by Renaissance master Michelangelo and his predecessors and successors, including Raphael, Rubens, Tintoretto, and Titian.

Largely drawn from the renowned collection of the Capodimonte Museum in Naples, Italy, the exhibition presents some 40 works from the 16th century, many commissioned or completed during the papacy of Alessandro Farnese, Pope Paul III. Remembered for his enthusiastic patronage of the arts in general, and of Michelangelo (1475–1564) in particular, Pope Paul III oversaw the completion of Michelangelo’s stupendous fresco The Last Judgment on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. The exhibition features a unique, large-scale copy of The Last Judgment painted in oil by Marcello Venusti.

Additional highlights include two of Michelangelo’s finest monumental drawings: Roman Soldiers and Venus Kissed by Cupid; as well as two iconic portraits of Pope Paul III by Italy’s greatest Renaissance masters: Raphael and Titian. Complementing the Capodimonte Museum loans are works from the Vatican, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the University of Chicago Library, private collectors, and the MFAH collections."

Nimble Fingers

Trying to keep my fingers nimble--

here is May's hat of the month

Joji Knits

Rafa's Hat

The exciting thing about knitting is the option to 

stitch a pattern from an Argentina designer

living in Buenos Aires--

what a world we live in!

Now we travel to Shetland for this special week of adventures

The official 2018 Shetland Wool Week ‘Merrie Dancers Toorie’ knitting pattern has been exclusively designed by Wool Week Patron Elizabeth Johnston.

Yours free, even if you're not attending Wool Week

Woolly Wormhead has a free pinwheel hat pattern.  Her patterns

are always interesting construction.

More Books to Read.............That Makes Me Happy!!

Thank goodness, on our Costco trip today, I didn't

find one single book that I wanted to read,........

BUT, that doesn't mean I didn't find any

books to read

My list begins again--I've already finished several of

the books from my past listing of books to read--

I am NOT going to be like my mother--who

has A book to Read!  I want plenty to choose

from.......

This book was a must since we saw the Independent Film

about "Texas Dance Halls"--Historic local halls

of importance to the communities they serve--

the photos are awesome in this book--

Couldn't do without this cookbook--

it's a delight to read through the recipes and

feel like I'm sitting at the table with Joanna

Gaines as she serves up plenty of delicious

food

This is one of my favorite authors--I've read all of

her books on Rei Shimura based in Japan

This is a new series set in India--so happy to

read about India and learn more of the customs

and culture

Jane Harper--what fun reads--she has authored

"The Dry" set in Australia--we travel the world through

our books

and now, lets learn more about Indigo!!  One of

my favorite dyes

So excited to see this--historical novel about Eliza Lucas Pinckney,

set on South Carolina plantation in 1739

I've previously read 

Letterbook of Eliza Lucas Pinckney, 1739-1762: Intriguing Letters by One of Colonial America's Most Accomplished Women (Women's Diaries & Letters of the Nineteenth-Century South)

Things That Make you Happy.....

Recently, I read a magazine article about happiness--The question was 

"Can you list five (5) things that made you happy today?" 

Well, can you?  The author of the article had a hard time finding three things that made her happy during the day.  Can it really be that hard to find five things that make you happy during your day?  

If you go searching the internet for ideas of what makes you happy--you'll find this:

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” - Dalai Lama

Happiness is subjective. Only you can decide what makes you happy. No one else. Have you ever sat down and really thought about the things that make you happy? I'm not sure if I have. And that's sad because there seem to be so many things to be happy about in our world. 

Isn't it interesting that you can find all sorts of advice on making yourself happy, but it boils down to WHAT makes you Happy!!

So, off I go to think about what made me happy today:

1. A good morning and a smile from my husband
2. A delicious cup of coffee--in fact, two delicious cups of coffee
3. A chance to sew on a project
4. Reading a book
5. Listening to music as I sew or stitch

Now, each day as I prepare to rest my head on my fluffy

pillow, I'll work on my list of Happy things!